Afghan Refugee Who Worked with CIA Charged in Shooting of Two National Guard Members Near White House
A former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)-affiliated Afghan soldier who resettled in the US under a 2021 evacuation program shot two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday, federal officials said.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, opened fire in an “ambush-style” attack with a .357 revolver, critically wounding Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. He was shot and arrested at the scene.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Lakanwal faces charges of assault with intent to kill and firearm possession during a violent crime, which could be upgraded if the soldiers die. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said the attack is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
🚨 BREAKING: Kash Patel just said it PERFECTLY on the Biden administration’s BETRAYAL
Q: Did authorities miss any signs in the asylum process?
PATEL: “Well, you miss ALL the signs when you do absolutely ZERO vetting – and that’s exactly what happened in this case!”
“When the… pic.twitter.com/2SRJNArblK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 27, 2025
Officials said Lakanwal previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan special forces unit known as the Zero Unit before entering the US through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program.
The incident has reignited political debate over vetting of Afghan evacuees and the Trump administration’s deployment of troops to combat urban crime.
US to Use Dominican Bases in Expanded Anti-Drug Operation Across Caribbean
The Trump administration will use the Dominican Republic’s San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport to support its expanding campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday alongside Dominican President Luis Abinader in Santo Domingo.
Abinader said the agreement would be “technical, limited and temporary,” focused on countering narcotics trafficking through the island nation.
The move comes amid the largest US military deployment in the region in decades, following Washington’s designation of Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns—which the US accuses President Nicolás Maduro of leading—as a foreign terrorist organization.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States aims to allow further deployments of troops and aircraft to address drug trafficking, during a visit to the Dominican Republic https://t.co/WD289lDva8 pic.twitter.com/sU4G4Odgll
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 27, 2025
The US military buildup includes port visits by warships in Trinidad and Tobago and the recent arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) in the Caribbean, prompting speculation about possible strikes against Venezuela.
Trump defended recent lethal actions against suspected traffickers, calling them part of a campaign against international criminal groups fueling the US drug crisis.
Putin Says US Peace Plan Offers ‘Basis for Talks,’ Warns Ukraine to Withdraw or Face Force
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that US proposals to end the war in Ukraine could serve as a starting point for negotiations but warned that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from contested territories or be overrun by Russia’s Army.
Speaking after a visit to Kyrgyzstan, Putin called President Donald Trump’s plan “a set of issues for discussion,” not a final deal.
The Kremlin confirmed that US envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow next week as part of Trump’s ongoing peace push, while US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll may travel to Kyiv.
The proposals, initially seen as favoring Russian demands, have been revised following US-Ukraine talks in Geneva, though European leaders remain uneasy about being sidelined.
Analysts say Putin aims to outlast Western support for Ukraine, even as Russian gains remain limited.
US peace plan, special military operation, contacts in UAE: what Putin said. According to the Russian leader, the US list of points on Ukraine “can be used” as the basis for future agreements:https://t.co/gvusujJUR6 pic.twitter.com/pcIhyP895Q
— TASS (@tassagency_en) November 27, 2025
Fighting continued this week, with Russian strikes killing a civilian in Sumy and Ukraine reporting 142 drones launched overnight. Meanwhile, Kyiv secured a $8.1 billion IMF package to help stabilize its economy amid ongoing corruption scandals and financial strain.
Europe Boosts Space Budget to $25.6 Billion, Eyes Lunar Missions and Arctic Space Hub
The European Space Agency (ESA) announced Thursday that it will raise its budget to 22.1 billion euros ($25.6 billion) over the next three years, marking a significant boost to Europe’s space ambitions.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said the increase reflects member nations’ recognition that Europe must “catch up” in global space exploration.
Germany, one of ESA’s largest contributors, pledged over 5 billion euros—up from 3.5 billion euros previously.
Aschbacher said ESA aims to send European astronauts, from Germany, France, and Italy, on future lunar missions under NASA’s Artemis program.
22.1 billion euros subscribed.
A record.
A first.
And a clear message that Europe is serious about space and that @ESA is the agency it trusts to deliver.
A historic Ministerial. A united Europe. A stronger ESA.https://t.co/znjgxtyCab
— Josef Aschbacher (@AschbacherJosef) November 27, 2025
ESA also signed a letter of intent with Norway to establish an Arctic Space Centre in Tromsø, focusing on climate monitoring, energy management, and regional security.
The agency, which includes 23 member states, said the Arctic project underscores Europe’s growing role in both scientific research and space-based environmental observation.
France to Launch New Military Service for Youth Amid Rising Security Fears
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that thousands of 18- and 19-year-olds will begin voluntary 10-month military service next year as part of a new national defense program.
The initiative, aimed at strengthening France’s armed forces amid growing concerns over Russia, will start with 3,000 participants in 2026 and expand to 10,000 per year by 2030, with a long-term goal of reaching up to 50,000 annually by 2035.
Volunteers will serve in mainland France and overseas territories but will not deploy abroad. They will undergo one month of training, followed by nine months of service alongside active-duty personnel, before joining the reserves.
French President Emmmanuel Macron announced a new voluntary youth military service set to launch by mid-2026, saying it will help France face growing global threats. The paid 10-month program for 18–19 year-olds will start with 3,000 participants in 2026 and aims to reach 50,000… pic.twitter.com/BOGZvqMP3G
— CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) November 27, 2025
Macron emphasized the program’s role in preparing France for an increasingly unstable world while ruling out a return to conscription.
France plans to boost defense spending to 64 billion euros ($74 billion) annually by 2027 and increase its reserve forces to 100,000 by 2030. The initiative aligns with similar moves by other European nations, including Germany, Belgium, and Poland, to expand voluntary service programs as regional tensions rise.
Guinea-Bissau Military Installs Junta Leader After Disputed Election, Opposition Calls Coup a Fabrication
Guinea-Bissau’s military on Thursday named General Horta Inta-A as head of a new junta, solidifying its takeover following a disputed presidential election.
The army announced a one-year transition period and banned protests after opposition candidate Fernando Dias called for demonstrations demanding the release of election results.
Deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and several others remain in custody, the military said, claiming the coup was necessary to restore stability. Dias, however, accused Embaló of staging a “false coup” to prevent his defeat at the polls.
🔴🇬🇼 General Horta Nta Na Man was sworn in as the transitional president of Guinea-Bissau on Thursday, an army statement said, one day after army officers announced they had deposed the country’s president.
Follow our coverage: https://t.co/sUmEbw59fJ pic.twitter.com/qnhhrPvq3X
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) November 27, 2025
The African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and France condemned the takeover and demanded Embaló’s release.
The coup marks another in a string of military power grabs across West Africa, where political instability and drug trafficking have deepened governance crises. Despite the turmoil, daily life resumed Thursday in the capital, Bissau.
Israeli Troops Kill Two Palestinians in West Bank as Video Sparks Execution Allegations
Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank on Thursday after the pair appeared to surrender, according to videos aired by Arab TV stations.
The Israeli military said the men were militants who had attacked troops and that the incident is under investigation.
Palestinian officials called the shootings an “execution” and accused Israel of violating international law.
The killings occurred amid an ongoing Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank, where more than 100 people have been detained since Tuesday. The army says it is targeting militant networks, while Palestinians cite mounting settler violence and civilian deaths.
🚨 Watch: Footage from Palestine National TV shows Israeli soldiers executing two detained Palestinians in cold blood during a raid in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank today.
Their hands were raised, they posed no threat, and Israeli soldiers murdered them anyway. https://t.co/9JA9eisaK4 pic.twitter.com/8v0sv1kdBF
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) November 27, 2025
Elsewhere, Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon, escalating regional tensions days before Pope Leo XIV’s visit.
In a separate development, 16-year-old Palestinian-American Mohammed Ibrahim was released from Israeli detention after nine months. His family said he was held in poor conditions and coerced into confessing to throwing stones at settlers.
Japan to Deploy New Anti-Landing Missiles in 2026 to Strengthen Island Defenses
Japan will begin procuring its next-generation Multi-Purpose Missile System Kai in 2026 to bolster coastal defenses against potential amphibious invasions, according to the Defense Ministry’s latest budget request.
Eleven launcher units are slated for purchase as Tokyo prioritizes protecting its southwestern islands amid rising regional tensions.
The new missile system will replace older anti-landing weapons such as the Type 96 and will target multiple enemy landing craft at longer ranges. It forms part of Japan’s broader multi-layered defense network, which includes Type 12 anti-ship missiles and planned hypersonic systems.
Japan to Procure New Anti-Landing Craft Missiles for Island Defense — USNI Newshttps://t.co/nsANAHV70W pic.twitter.com/Vdxyr314tp
— USNI News (@USNINews) November 27, 2025
The 2026 budget also funds the Synchronized, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defense concept—a program to develop drones and unmanned vehicles for coastal defense. Similar efforts are underway in South Korea and Taiwan, both investing in short- to medium-range missile systems designed to repel amphibious assaults.
Death Toll Rises to 83 in Hong Kong High-Rise Fire as Police Arrest Construction Executives
Firefighters in Hong Kong battled for a second day Thursday to extinguish a massive blaze at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po, where at least 83 people have died in one of the city’s deadliest fires in decades.
Crews continued searching the seven charred towers for survivors as smoke poured from upper floors.
Authorities said the fire began Wednesday in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before spreading rapidly across multiple buildings under renovation. More than 70 people, including 11 firefighters, were injured, and about 900 residents were evacuated.
Police arrested three men, two company directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction & Engineering, on suspicion of manslaughter, citing “gross negligence.”
Officials said flammable materials, including plastic foam panels, may have fueled the fire’s spread.
Hong Kong police arrested the bosses of a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter over the city’s worst fire in nearly 80 years, which killed at least 83 people with scores more listed as missing https://t.co/nxIETRBwID pic.twitter.com/I2KUKg7seb
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 27, 2025
Hong Kong’s government has ordered inspections of renovation projects citywide and is considering replacing bamboo scaffolding with metal for safety reasons.
The city’s anti-corruption agency also opened an investigation into the renovation work.
The fire is the worst in Hong Kong since 1996, when 41 people died in a Kowloon blaze.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: US to Use Dominican Bases, Putin Sees US Peace Plan as Basis for Talks, Hong Kong Fire Deaths Rise to 83
Afghan vet shoots Guardsmen, Putin weighs Trump peace plan, and more. Here’s what’s making headlines this Thursday evening.
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